Andrew James "Jim" Blackett-Ord,

CVO CVO may refer to: Science and technology * Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington, US * Chief veterinary officer, the head of a veterinary authority * Circumventricular organs, positioned around the ventricular system of the brain * Co ...

(1921 – 21 February 2012) was a British barrister and judge. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he was held for two years as a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...

Early life

He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

and

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at th ...

War Service

During

he was commissioned into the Scots Guards, where in 1943 he met and later became engaged to Rosemary Bovill. In 1943 he was posted to North Africa, where he later recorded that at one point, he found himself having dinner in a tent alone with

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

, principally because all of the officers in his regiment had already embarked for Italy. He rejoined the regiment after

Anzio landings The Battle of Anzio was a battle of the Italian Campaign of World War II that took place from January 22, 1944 (beginning with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle) to June 5, 1944 (ending with the capture of Rome). The ope ...

, where his battalion was routed by the German counterattack. He ordered the remaining men to surrender. His obituary recorded that this act "saved many of their lives, but left him with no glorious military record". He then spent two years as a German

. When he was released at the end of his confinement, he weighed just seven stone, or .

Family

After the war, he returned home and married Rosemary. Together they had five children (one of whom died in infancy). In 1951 he inherited his wife's family estate at Helbeck, from the old Warcop family of Breeks, and then a year later in 1952, he inherited his ancestral family home of Whitfield Hall.

Law

Blackett-Ord made his living as a

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

, mainly in conveyancing. He practiced from chambers in London from 1946 to 1972. In 1972 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and returned north to sit as a judge. He was the first person appointed to the post subsequent the

Courts Act 1971 The Courts Act 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the purpose of which was to reform and modernise the courts system of England and Wales. It established the Crown Court, introduced the posts of circuit judge and recorde ...

coming into force (previously the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine was controlled by section 14 of the Administration of Justice Act 1881). In the end, he was the only judge after that date to hold the office independently; after he stepped down in 1987, the office has been held by a Justice of the High Court sitting in the Chancery Division. In a break with tradition he was awarded the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the

1988 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1988 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countries ...

instead of the traditional knighthood when he retired.

Church

Blackett-Ord also served as churchman, a churchwarden and chancellor of Newcastle diocese.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackett-Ord, Andrew James 20th-century English judges 1921 births 2012 deaths People educated at Eton College Alumni of New College, Oxford British World War II prisoners of war Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order British Army personnel of World War II Scots Guards officers World War II prisoners of war held by Germany